The Life and Times of: Arthur Miller

By: Stephen Foley

Michael Francis

Josh Mathis

Biography

• Born October 17, 1915 in Harlem, New York City• First success was with “All My Sons”• His next play “Death of a Salesman” was a hit with

everyone• June 21, 1956 he is called before the House Un-

American Activities Committee for attending communist meetings. One week later he marries Marilyn Monroe.

• February 17, 1962 he marries Inge Morath• 1987 Miller writes his autobiography• Millers wife Inge Morath dies in 2002• December 2004 Miller announces he is planning to

marry 34-year-old artist Agnes Barley. • Arthur Miller dies February 10, 2005

Important Plays

• “Death of a Salesman”

• “The Crucible”

• “All My Sons”

• “Everybody wins”

“Death of a Salesman”

• A play about a mans inability to accept change with the world. The play itself is a mixture of the last 24 hours of the Willy Loman’s (main character) life. It end with Willy’s suicide and funeral.

“The Crucible”

• A play about the events leading up to the Salem witch trials. Neighbor constantly accuse each other to avoid being trialed themselves. These trials result in mass paranoia and death.

Awards

• 1949 Pulitzer Prize for “Death of a Salesman”• 6 Tony Awards for “Death of a Salesman”• 1 Tony Award for “All My Sons”• 1 Tony Award for “The Crucible”• 1 Tony Award for “The Price”• 1 Tony Award for “Broken Glass”• 1 Tony for “The Ride Down Mt.Morgan”• He is awarded Spain's Principe de Asturias Prize

for Literature as "the undisputed master of modern drama".

• 3 Emmy’s for the T.V. version of “Death of a Salesman”

Themes

• Family

• Secrets

• moral accountability

Similarities to Williams• Won Pulitzer Prize

• Wrote plays about family

• Had family members who died before them

• Went to college

• Wrote memorable plays